Promising Early Results From Pilot Programs To Address Water Quality Issues

By Gordon HopkinsThe City of Fairbury has been running three test-pilot programs to address the water quality issues that have plague the city’s water supply for years. Two of those pilot programs have been completed, while the third is expected to be compete sometime this fall. While the final results are not yet available, a Fairbury City Councilperson has said initial indications are positive. East Wellfield And NitratesA Water Sourcing Committee was created on December 6, 2022, to locate a lower-nitrate source of water to supplement the East Wellfield. The city’s primary sources for drinking water are the three wells at the East Wellfield. However, those wells consistently test in the higher range for nitrates. The pilot program currently in operation is directed at reducing nitrate content.The city had previously examined the possibility of a treatment plant to extract nitrates from the water but the difficulty is that those methods result in high quantities of wastewater that would require disposal. The pilot utilizes a different technology that results in less waste water than other water treatment methods, such as reverse osmosis or ion exchange.Councilperson Brian Schmidt, who is also chair of the Water Sourcing Committee, told FJN, “It’s called BNR, or biological nitrate removal. It also produces a non-toxic byproduct that can be disposed of through our waste water treatment plant. This type of treatment is not new. However, it would be the first in Nebraska to treat drinking water. So far it seems to be very effective at nitrate removal.”According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), the maximum allowable level of nitrates in drinking water is 10 ppm (part per million). One of those three wells often tests higher than 10 ppm and that water must be blended with water from one of the other two wells to bring the nitrate content below 10 ppm. Crystal Springs Wellfield And BiofilmWhile the city has another source of water at Crystal Springs, that wellfield has been offline since 2001 due to the presence of biofilm, which is a collection of microorganisms in which cells stick to each other and also to a surface. While biofilm normally does not present a health risk, it clogs the filters and pumping equipment.Schmidt told FJN, “Two pilot studies have been ran at Crystal Springs, and data is currently being put into a final report. Both programs were intended to remove biofilm from the water. Both worked effectively. Both also produced a nontoxic by-product that can be disposed of through our waste water treatment plant.”One of the pilots was a sand filter. According to Schmidt, “A large vessel filled with sand could filter out the biofilm, and could be backflushed when the filter was full. The backflushing had to be done manually and therefore was more labor intensive.”The second pilot was called ultrafiltration. Schmidt explained, “It’s a little more complex, and consisted of a ceramic membrane as the filter. This membrane was also backflushed to renew the media. The backflushing was done often and automatically.”Schmidt noted that, while promising, these results are still very early observations, “A final report from Olson and Associates will be presented when it’s complete.”

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